Thailand Live Thursday 12 Jan 2012

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Navy seizes 800 dogs in Nakhon Phanom, detain man suspected of illegally transporting dogs to neighbouring country across Mekong River /MCOT

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CSD Admits Will Take Time to Arrest Call Center Gang

The police admit that it will take time to find the call center gang who conned a former teacher into transferring 27 million baht to them.

Crime Suppression Division Thai Police Chief, Police Major Piya Jareonsuk said the police have interviewed the victim, a 70-year-old former female teacher who was tricked into transferring 27 million baht to the call center gang.

The investigators will inspect the 80 bank accounts the victim transferred money, which she was told belonged to the Anti-Money Laundering Office.

Furthermore, a special committee will be set up to investigate the scandal.

Meanwhile, the Crime Suppression Division police are working hard to identify the real bank account owners.

However, the police chief admitted that it will take time to investigate the case.

The police chief believed the call center gang was be able to swindle the victim because they had the victim's personal information and they threatened her.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-12

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Phuket Police armed standoff ends on a high

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ends-on-a-high/

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Eastern Shore Filled with Tourists

Tourists have turned to the eastern provinces in order to avoid torrential rain and heavy rains in the South.

Famous tourist spots in Chantaburi Province, namely Chao Lao beach in Tha Mai District, Khung Wiman beach in Nayaiarm District, and Laem Sing Beach in Laem Sing District are enjoying a large number of tourists.

The clear to see that the number of tourists has increased drastically, generating a large amount of revenue for the tourism industry, especially restaurant and hotel owners.

Tourists have headed east instead of south, where torrential rain is hitting hard.

The hotel managing director in Chao Lao Beach said resorts throughout the district are fully booked on weekends and there are no rooms available for people who have not made reservations.

Most of the tourists have come from other provinces.

One of the Pattani tourists said he took his students from the south to enjoy the gorgeous scenery of the beach.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued a warning of heavy rain and strong waves in southern Thailand.

The strong easterly wind moving through the south is triggering a torrential downpour from January 12 to 15, while westerly wind will move to the north of the country, causing scattered rain and a drop in temperature in the North.

As for the southern provinces from Chumpon downwards, there will be widespread scattered rain with heavy rainfall in some areas.

People living near hillsides and waterways are warned to prepare for heavy rain and possible flash flooding.

The department said strong winds will generate waves of 2 to 4 meters in the Gulf of Thailand.

All ships should proceed with caution, and small boats should stay ashore today and for the next few days.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-12

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Phuket newsman killed in gun attack

Three of the four bullets fired struck Mr Wisut in the upper body. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Phuket newsman Wisut 'Ae Inside' Tangwitthayaporn (right) meets Wichai Phraisa-ngop about the red-shirt movement in Phuket in 2009. Mr Wichai was Phuket Governor at the time, and is now a Phuket Senator. Photo: Gazette file

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Twin-track eastern rail link opens to connect Chachoengsao, Laem Chabang port

CHACHOENGSAO, Jan 12 - Thailand's eastern double-track railroad linking this province with Chonburi's Laem Chabang opened Thursday, and expanding the country's road and rail logistics system with a connection to the deepwater Laem Chabang Port.

Deputy Transport Minister Pol Lt-Gen Chat Kuldilok presided over the railway's opening ceremony.

The railroad will also support the Lat Krabang Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Bangkok, as planned by the ministry and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the deputy transport minister said.

The Lat Krabang depot currently handles some 400,000 containers per year. After the double-track railroad's opening, it is expected to serve 800,000 containers annually in the near future and up to one million within a few years.

The ministry will speed up other double-track railway construction links with the Chachoengsao-Laem Chabang route to support the transport sector.

On the same occasion, Pol Lt-Gen Chat launched a railway passenger car for handicapped passengers and travellers with wheelchairs, considered as a development of SRT services to serve the elderly and handicapped and as a part of the government's policy to support the quality of life of such groups of people.

The Chachoengsao-Laem Chabang double-track railroad covers Chachoengsao and Chon Buri provinces. It was built with an investment of Bt5.85 billion for a 78km length. From Chachoengsao station, the route passes through Chon Buri, Bang Phra, Si Racha terminating at Laem Chabang station. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-01-12

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Thai Navy rescue 800 live dogs destined for Indochina meat trade

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Bank of Thailand launching new banknote series next week

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SET index midday up 1.90 pts, 0.18 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Thursday stood at 1,053.53, up 1.90 points, or 0.18 per cent amid Bt10.94 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 737.07, up 0.93 point, or 0.13 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: CPF, INTUCH, BANPU, ADVANC, IVL.

-- The Nation 2012-01-12

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RT@Biz_TheNation: National Energy Policy Council approved resumption of Oil Fund levies on petrol, gasohol,diesel,effective Jan16

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South warned of heavy rain on Jan. 12-15

BANGKOK, 12 January 2012 (NNT) - The Meteorological Department has warned residents in the South to brace for heavy rain and high winds during January 12-15.

According to the Department, low air pressure which has covered the lower part of the South China Sea on the east side of central Malaysia is moving to the west. Hence, the South of Thailand is expected to see high winds blowing from the East.

Areas from Chumphon province down will experience more rain. Residents in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Patthalung, Songkhla, Yala, and Narathiwat have been told to prepare for heavy rain from January 12-15; which is moving upwards from the South.

The Gulf of Thailand is expected to have showers and waves 2-3 meters high. The Department has advised fishermen to be extra cautious when going to the sea.

-- NNT 2012-01-12

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Bangkok Police Officer Killed in Drug Sting Operation

A policeman was run over by a suspect while taking part in a drug sting operation.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/525714-bangkok-police-officer-killed-in-drug-sting-operation/page__view__findpost__p__4973588

-- Tan Network 2012-01-12

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Thai panel calls for reform to royal insult law

BANGKOK, January 12, 2012 (AFP) - An independent Thai commission has called for reform of the kingdom's law against insulting the monarchy, which has attracted mounting criticism for suppressing freedom of expression.

In a letter to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, sent to AFP on Thursday, the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) said the government "should push for an amendment of the law governing lese majeste offences".

Under the law now, anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each separate count of lese majeste, but the TRCT said the combined prison term should not exceed seven years.

"It would be appropriate if punishment for offences against Criminal Penal Code Section 112 were based more on popular sentiment than it is now. This means that it should be less harsh," the letter said.

It also called for a senior official to be appointed to authorise criminal proceedings in lese majeste cases. Currently any member of the public can bring a prosecution and the police are required by the law to investigate.

The letter, dated December 30, said "the people should also encourage and support such an amendment in order to bring about peace and reconciliation in our country".

Despite the recommendations and recent attacks on the law, Thailand's political parties have since said they will not reform it.

The United States, the European Union and the United Nations have all expressed concern over recent convictions, which have also sparked small protests both for and against the law in the Thai capital Bangkok.

A 61-year-old Thai man was jailed in November for 20 years for sending text messages deemed insulting to the monarchy, while a US citizen in December was handed two-and-a-half years in prison for allegedly defaming the king.

The same month a political activist was sentenced to 15 years in jail for defaming the royals during speeches at rallies in 2008 held by the "Red Shirt" movement, which supports ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Opponents of the law say it has increasingly been used in Thailand as a political tool to stifle free speech, particularly under the last government, which was supported by the Bangkok-based elite.

Observers say the new government led by Yingluck, who is Thaksin's sister, has yet to deal with the problem since it came to power in August.

The TRCT was set up by the last government in 2010 after the worst political violence in decades, which saw more than 90 people die in clashes between the army and Red Shirt demonstrators.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-01-12

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PTT, Bangchak raise all oil retails prices by Bt0.50 per litre, E85 by Bt0.30, effective Friday/MCOT

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Water levels in Lamphun reducing rapidly

LAMPHUN, 12 January 2012 (NNT) – The water levels in major rivers of Lamphun province have been reducing rapidly. The locals are afraid of another drought crisis.

The water level in the Kuang River in Pa Sang district has been lowered rapidly, while people in Mae Tha district can walk across the Tha River as the water has nearly dried out.

The Lamphun office of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has told the residents to prepare for the upcoming dry season. It says the water may not be enough for off-season rice farming in the next 1-2 months.

Currently the Mae Kuang Dam and Mae Teeb Reservoir have stopped distributing water for farming temporarily in order to reserve water for the dry season.

-- NNT 2012-01-12

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Thailand Mobile User

Smartphone inside study: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/525722-thailand-mobile-user/

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Over 993,000 workers affected from flooding

Labour Protection and Welfare Department chief Arthit Isamo Thursday revealed that 28,679 business establishments in 29 provinces were affected by the flood disaster from October 1December 26 last year, affecting 993,944 workers.

As of December 26, 2011, a total of 2,156 establishments covering 307,948 workers could resume work or remained close due to flood, whilst 26,523 other establishments with 685,996 workers managed to resume their operations.

As the department had a project for employers to sign MoU that they wouldn't lay off workers due to flood and would pay the workers at least 75 per cent of salary - in exchange of the department providing them the Bt2,000perhead subsidy for three months, he said 839 establishments with 241,902 workers applied for the project.

-- The Nation 2012-01-12

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Yingluck to chair mobile Cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai next week

The Cabinet is expected to hold mobile meetings in all 77 provinces in order to stay in touch with each locality, Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said Thursday, voicing confidence about political stability to enable the government to complete its fouryear term.

"Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra plans to hold meetings and stay overnight at every province," he said.

Yongyuth said Yingluck might not pick the same meeting venues as what former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had done, adding mobile Cabinet meetings in the South will take place in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Songkhla and Phuket.

Yingluck is scheduled to chair her first mobile meeting in Chiang Mai next week.

-- The Nation 2012-01-12

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SET index closed at 1052.23, up 0.60; Bt/USD31.72; GBP48.48; AUD32.52; EUR40.21; CAD30.93; HKD4.08; SGD24.40; JPY41.03

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EGAT: Bhumibol, Sirikit Dams begin discharging water for agricultural use during dry season; will increase storage capacity for coming rainy season /MCOT

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Hat Yai Municipality raises yellow flag flood alert after heavy downpours; flash flood fears prompt immediate closure of schools in five at-risk areas

Runoff hits Narathiwat's Sukhirin district; 195 households under 80-100cm floodwater; military rushes to evacuate villagers to temporary roadside tents

/MCOT

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Burmese government and Karen insurgents sign ceasefire

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Phuket Police step up staff drug testing at late night venues

Phuket Police carry out the urine tests at the Sure Garden restaurant in Phuket Town. Photo: Warisa Temram

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Czech beauties arrive in Phuket

CLEARING CUSTOMS: The Czech models 'wai' on arrival at Phuket Airport. The TAT office in Phuket is hoping the arrival of these beauties will help them tap the Eastern European market. Photo: Warisa Temram

Phuket Airport Director Pratueng Sornkham (center) and fellow airport workers make sure the ladies arrive in style. Photo: Warisa Temram

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UPDATE: Phuket Police suspect land issues in murder of local journalist

People gather at the scene of the killing on Thepkrasattri Road during rush hour this morning. Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha has noted the high-profile nature of the killing and said he was keeping an eye on the police investigation.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/525685-phuket-newsman-killed-in-gun-attack/page__view__findpost__p__4974367

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to continue:

Thailand Live Friday 13 Jan 2012

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